Team Sky rider Thomas improved his position after Van Garderen’s withdrawal and a late mechanical problem for Spaniard Alberto Contador, who started the day fifth and slipped to six minutes 40 seconds off the leaders’ pace.

After the end of stage 17, which climbed 161km through the Alps from Digne-les-Bains to Pra Loup, Spain’s Alejandro Valverde is now third, while Thomas is six minutes 34 seconds behind Froome.

Geschke goes for glory

Geschke has no plans to shave off his beard

Geschke, 29, recorded his first stage victory in any Grand Tour race and it was the fifth stage won by a German rider in this year’s Tour de France.

Froome frustrates Quintana

Today’s stage may have been Quintana’s best chance yet of making up time on 30-year-old leader Froome, with just three stages remaining before Sunday’s procession into Paris.

The pair formed a group on the final ascent to Pra Loup, alongside fellow GC contender Vincenzo Nibali, with Quintana joined by Movistar team-mates Valverde, Adriano Malori and Jose Herrada.

Quintana, 25, held the numbers advantage, and attempted to break away in the final stretch, but Froome kept in contact and although last year’s young rider winner was victorious in their mini sprint for the line, the gap between the two remains the same.

“Quintana is still pushing me and testing me,”

“In that last kilometre he was pushing on to see if I could respond. I’m feeling alright and just hoping to stay on my bike the next few days.”

“He’s running out of opportunities,” said Froome, who shared a handshake with his rival at the finish.

“There’s only three more stages left to race. They’re really tough stages.

“Definitely getting the feeling it’s an all or nothing approach at this stage in the race.”

Back to Gap

The team produced data to counter figures from physiologist Pierre Sallet, who had claimed Froome’s victory on stage 10 was “abnormal”.

The 186.5km stage 18 to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne includes seven categorised climbs, including the tough 5.1% of Col du Glandon.

“This should be a day for the breakaway to succeed. I don’t think a lot will be happening in terms of the yellow jersey because everybody will be keeping an eye on each other before the final two days in the mountains,” said Thomas in his